Peru: Day 5–Agua Calientes

After a 3.5 hour train ride through lush mountain terrain, we arrived in Agua Calientes. I’m sure my mouth hung open as we walked down the hill to the Sumaq Hotel–I have no words to describe the scenery. Perhaps this photo of the view from our hotel room balcony will help:

Except the view is so big I had to take two pictures of it to get it all in:

The sound of the river’s rushing water is loud and constant, but comforting, too. Like a living noise generator.

On the train we met a couple who lives in Australia; the woman, Sondra, is Peruvian and her partner is Spanish. She’s currently studying for her Ph.D. in Tourism and Gastronomy (with an emphasis on those industries in Peru). She interviewed me for her dissertation, as well as the Argentinian couple beside us who had completed a six day motorcycle journey from Buenos Aires to go to Machu Picchu.

Our bus to Machu Picchu leaves at 5:30am tomorrow because Mick and I have tickets to hike Huayna Picchu at 7am. Mick’s mum declined because she’s a sensible woman.

Really, this landscape is unlike any I’ve ever seen. Just amazing and wonderful. I can’t believe I’ll be seeing Machu Picchu tomorrow.